Minority welfare fund unspent, plight of ‘Madrasa’ teachers remain unchanged

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, September 19, 2025

Despite a large number of central schemes being in force across the country for welfare of minorities , the plight of the Muslim minorities in Tripura shows a sharp contrast between the lofty slogan of ‘Sav Ka Saath , Sav Ka Vikash’ and its implementation. This came out in sharp relief from information tabled in the state assembly today. Replying to a specific query put by CPI (M) MLA from Jubaraj Nagar constituency Shalendra Nath, the minister for minority welfare department said that in the financial year 2024-2025 the annual budget of the state government had allocated Rs 53.60 crores for the department.

But while making the actual allocation at the administrative level, the finance department had given only Rs 33.10 crores-that is, at least Rs 20 crore less than budgetary allocation. But ironically even out of the lesser allocation only Rs 17.98 crores-a little more than 50%- could be spent by the department for minority welfare. An amount of Rs 15.12 crores could not be spent at all and had to be deposited back with the finance department as per rule, ostensibly due to time overlap.

Apart from this, the plight of ‘Madrasa’ teachers is still more serious as they continue to be deprived of annual pay hike , other financial benefits and any retiral benefit. There is not even a remote chance of the services of the ‘Madrasa’ teachers being regularized . This has fuelled discontent among the ‘Madrasa’ teachers appointed on a central scheme named SPQUEM and whenever they raise the legitimate demand for regularization of service it is rejected on the ground that their appointment is centred on a central scheme which does not sanction regularization of service, annual pay hike and retiral benefit. At the time of retirement age the teachers of 129 ‘Madrasas’ go back home empty handed without any pension, PF, gratuity , leave encashment or group insurance benefits given to other employees and teachers.

Speaking on the issue a ‘Madrasa’ teacher said that they had raised repeated demand for bringing the ‘Madrasas’ under the grant-in-aid rules but this has been rejected consistently. During the left front rule the chef minister Manik Sarkar had once raised their monthly pay but since then no pay hike or upgradation of benefits including regularization in service has been granted . “It is really painful that in our democratic country there is no end to our deprivation ; there are among us master degree and Phd holders and we teach all subjects taught in general government run schools , yet we are deprived ; we can now only appeal to the state government to look into our problems from humanitarian prism and resolve our problems” said the veteran ‘Madrasa’ teacher. What is shocking for them is that the vast majority of them reposed faith in the BJP and promises made by its leaders in Tripura but the promises till now remain only on paper.

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